__________ is the only bird sanctuary in Puducherry.

@thithi987

Chunnambar

Bharti Park

Ousteri Lake

Ousteri Lake

Located around 10km from the main town, Ousteri Lake (also known as the Osudu Lake) is the only bird sanctuary of Puducherry. The wetland spans an area of 390 ha that is a part of both Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. It has been recognised as one of the most important wetlands of Asia by the IUCN.

Earlier, over 20,000 birds belonging to over 40 species could be spotted in the region every year. Rare birds like Spot-billed pelicans, Eurasian Spoonbills, Darters, and Painted Storks which are on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species have been spotted multiple times in the wetland.

Due to the deteriorating ecology of the region, the Puducherry government had declared the Lake as a wildlife sanctuary in 2008, but it didn’t yield the desired results since its parts were located in Tamil Nadu which hadn’t declared it as a sanctuary. In 2014, Tamil Nadu also declared the Ousteri Lake as a wildlife sanctuary and since then the ecology of the lake has improved. Ousteri Lake is one of the most sought after destinations for nature lovers that are visiting Puducherry.